Upper Darby residents discuss Bond Avenue parking

UPPER DARBY -- Mayor Thomas Micozzie and members of township council held a special meeting last week for Bond Avenue residents to resolve a truck parking issue.

Gloria Nickel, of the 2300 block of Bond Avenue, objects to having a box truck and dump truck parked on her residential street and wanted a sign posted prohibiting those vehicles from parking.

Several months ago Nickel began attending monthly council meetings in an attempt to have a "no parking trucks or commercial vehicles" sign posted to prohibit parking.

After going through the proper procedure and submitting a petition signed by sufficient neighbors, 80 percent, she was still turned down.

In an effort to resolve the issue Micozzie, Chief Administrative Officer Thomas Judge, Council President Don Bonnett, Third District Councilman Thomas Wagner and At-large Councilman James Santora invited every homeowner by letter on the 2200 and 2300 blocks of Bond Avenue to a showdown.

A dozen residents of the street attended to review options, with a divided mix on having the sign posted.

"The issue facing council is the definition of a commercial vehicle, or the difference between a truck and a commercial vehicle," Judge said. "We need to understand what vehicles you want restricted on your street."

Micozzie noted Bond Avenue is no different than any other street in the township.

"Many residents have pick-up trucks for their personal vehicle," Micozzie said noting posting a 'no truck parking' sign would prohibit pick-up trucks with a 'truck' designation on their license plate. "The guy with the dump truck, that's a problem."

"I have a truck," one man announced from his seat, who received an, 'I second that,' from a man seated in another row. "I want to park it on the street. I push the mirror in."

According to Judge, policing the parking becomes a problem if posted 'no trucks' because of the state's 16 weight classes.

Nickel agreed residents with personal pick-ups should be able to park on the street and noted her efforts to maintain property values by prohibiting the large six-wheeler trucks.

The safety issue regarding fire and emergency vehicles getting through was also addressed.

"We did take a fire truck down there different times of the day," Judge said. "It's a tight move but that street is safe."

Bond Avenue residents in attendance thanked officials for having the forum.

Nickel wasn't altogether happy with the solution of prohibiting the box truck and dump truck without having a sign posted.

"It's resolved temporarily," Nickel said at the conclusion of the meeting maintaining her desire to have a sign. "I'm not happy. I don't think it's 100 percent resolved."